This question pertains to a diminutive woman in her mid-60s. She has a .38 handgun but has been told by a few people (shooting range owner, RTC instructor's cousin, co-worker, etc.) that the best thing to have is a shotgun. They pretty much said that sometimes the only thing a perp needs is to hear the cocking of the shotgun and he'll flee the scene.

I wanted to tap into the expertise of those FReepers who are knowledgeable of such things so I can pass along the info. Also, her funds are limited (fixed income), so any recommendations that would keep her from having to spend too much and where would be the best place to buy it would be helpful.

"We had better ban those. ☺" I thought about that when I wrote that sentence. Evidently, not many people know about these defensive bats. People keep trying to think I mean a baseball bat. One couldn't use this to hit a ball - maybe once but the weight would be too much to continue to try to hit a ball. It looks like a black baseball bat. One could carry it in the car as it's not designated as a weapon.

“Got it all figured out how youre going to hold/swing it so it isnt taken from you?”

The bat is a choice, just like the pepper spray gun is a choice. Choice depends on what the situation is. I keep that bat in a position close to the front door. I know it's there as a choice based on what's happening.

The Ruger 38 with hollow points is in a fanny pack designed to cover a gun - has a velcro panel to jerk down and the gun is in my hand. If lawlessness started, I would wear that fanny pack all the time. Also have an ammo vest that carries extra ammo.

One way or another, I will kill the SOB that makes it into my house. I prefer to shoot him at the door and kick the body out so I can close and lock the door again. It's okay to kick the body out now since we have a law that says if someone tries to get in, it's okay to use deadly force. Before that law, it was best to drag the body inside to prove he was actually in.

BTW...something’s bugged me throughout this whole thread. Unless she truly can NOT hit the broad side of a barn....what those men said to her was not right. They took away any self-confidence she may have had.

Is there a different range she can go to? The guys at my range were nothing but complimentary, along with, of course, VERY instructive.

00 buckshot is a macho suggestion and in a home defense weapon is a disaster waiting to happen to the homeowner, not the perp. In a house clearing operation, a load of #6 or #7 1/2 and will cut a man in half at 15 feet. The chances of this devastating shot penetrating a wall and injuring or killing a neighbor or loved one is minimized. Also, for a slightly built female with minimal self defense skills and for accessibility and ease of use and lethality, a Taurus Judge loaded with .410 defensive ball shot is a good suggestion.

Training is more important than the type of gun she uses. She needs to be proficient with the firearm, but also understand its limitations and exactly how it should be used effectively to defend herself. She needs to be able to identify her defendable spaces in her home and be ready to make the split second decisions that could save her life.

Personally, I keep revolvers .38 sec and 22LR. The only time I was ever faced with anything like a home invasion, though, I used an 17th century styled small sword. Stabbed him in the foot when he stuck his foot in the door while tryin’ to force it open. It worked, but I don’t recommend it as a rule.

173
posted on 01/07/2013 12:29:45 AM PST
by VietVet
(I am old enough to know who I am and what I believe, and I 'm not inclined to apologize for any of)

Ruger and S&W make some really good .380 pistols.
Even when you move to 9mm compacts, they are a good size larger, but still carry-able.

Years ago I bought a .32 auto (KelTec P32). Sure, it’s a dinky “pimp gun”, but it’s always in my pocket. When other people are leaving their .45ACP autos at home or in the car, my .32 auto is right with me.

For you, dear lady, go shoot a a few different weapons. A .38 is fine for under the pillow and the a**hole is at the bedroom door. A 12 guage is unwieldy in your house and will probably knock you on your butt. Try a semi auto .22 Magnum short barrel rifle. Very wicked round. Won’t beat you up. If not that then maybe an M1 Carbine or a 9mm carbine like a Mossberg or a Highpoint. Shoot them and you’ll see.

I have a Taurus Judge and it will fire 410 shotgun shells. It does have a bit of recoil but with the 410 “handgun” ammo, she should be able to easily handle it. It is like having a shotgun in a revolver and it is. I love it and there is an availablity of ammo from squirrel shot to rifled slug and a special new PDX1 Defender ammo that is really bad. It will also fire 45 long colt ammunition with very minimal recoil.

Get a “Judge” snake gun. It is a 6 shot revolver that shoots a 410 shell that is packed with 4 small disc and 10-12 BB’s especially designed to spread to 4 feet wide in about 8 feet. It will spread to a width of a hallway.
Perfect for homeowner protection. It can be worn legally exposed on yourself on your own property in Maryland.
Most of the problem with discharging it is the 8 pints of blood that has to be cleaned up!!!!

Remington 870, 12 gage, 18 1/2” barrel, is best for HD. But some consideration needs to be give as to what she can physically handle. My wife is 62 and she has no problem with shooting our shotgun or Rock River LAR-15 or any of my collection of guns.

We live in the country and there are no neighbors at risk, so I use 00 buck. Your friend might do better with a 20 gage ‘youth’ gun. Heck, I would even consider a double barrel, 12 or 20 GA. The 20 ga gun my have a shorter stock and make it easier for her to more through the rooms in the house, if that becomes necessary.

She should have a gun mounted weapon light, the can cost more than the gun, but there is a $30 light that many folks use that should work fine for HD. A short barrel is best for in the home and for about $20 she should buy a “limb Savor” butt pad.

Then, get her a few boxes of low load practice rounds - bird shot and take her shooting. She needs to learn the basics and she must do some practice.

Now, some folks like to say that all the shooter needs to do is shoot in the general direction of the bad guy, because they spray. That’s kinda true, but don’t count on that-— take your best aim and shoot, and shoot, and shoot again... until the threat has stopped. Keep in mind that there is no rule that says there can be only one bad guy, there may be multiple, so her aim is important.

There can be some psychological advantage if the bad guy hears you rack a pump shotgun, but that is not a guarantee with the evil dregs that are out there anymore.

I keep my shotgun right next to my bed. It is step up such that I wouldn’t even have to get out of bed to shoot the target.

Funny, for decades I home has been just fine, but I have recently come to the conclusion that I am not as young, fast and trained as I once was. This weekend we began to plan out way to make our place even more secure, especially when we are in it, sleeping. Considering what I am doing to the doors, bag guys will be forced to work and make a great deal of noise to get in.

Oh, One more thing. I like Remington 870, but I believe that a Mossberg 500 is also a fine gun for HD. I think they are a bit less expensive than the Remington 870.

I wish you and your friend the best.......

189
posted on 01/07/2013 2:34:16 AM PST
by Gator113
(**WHO in the hell gave the damn order to NOT rescue our men in Benghazi?**)

My wife is 62 and during our 40 years together, she has proven to me that there isn’t anything she can’t handle. My bride would be upset if she thought we were talking about how frail she might be because of her age.

192
posted on 01/07/2013 2:45:28 AM PST
by Gator113
(**WHO in the hell gave the damn order to NOT rescue our men in Benghazi?**)

I don’t concur with the idea of using a firearm to scare criminals away. Yes, it might work, and it has worked for me. But that said, many shootings indicated that the perp was well aware of the victim being armed.

Frankly, I think men who intend to attack a woman in her home have such a low opinion of women that they think she is incapable of “being tough”. They keep advancing on her with what I assume is the idea that they will disarm her, because she lacks the fortitude to fire.

Never plan to scare, that is a possibility, but not a plan.

198
posted on 01/07/2013 3:44:49 AM PST
by SampleMan
(Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)

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